How can I learn to consume more information at a faster rate?

Answer by Tim Kenny:

1. Find Books with a High Density of Information

Use recommendations from mentors, bloggers, forums and Amazon book reviews.

2. Learn to Speed Read

3. Play Video and Audio at 1.5 -3x Speed w/VLC Media Player

People speak at 100-150 wpm. You can comprehend 300 wpm easily (its about how fast you read) and the upper limit is ~450 wpm for listening.

4. Books (and/or transcripts)>Audio and Video

You can read faster than you can listen once you learn speed reading. Books and transcripts allow you to take notes in margins or highlight/underline easily.

5. Get a Mentor

You can ask questions and skip over stuff you don't need to learn. You waste time consuming information on stuff you have already learned. When you are talking with someone you can skip most of that (though sometime older mentors can't be stopped from telling long stories).

6. Outsource Note Taking of Books, Audio, Video, ect

For small tasks use Fancyhands. For larger projects us oDesk.

7. Listen to Audio Books and Podcasts When You Can't Read (Driving, Exercising, ect)

8. Use Twitter, Google Reader, Stumbleupon, High Quality Forums and Quora to Sort Information for Your Consumption

Caveats:

1. You forget 50% of what you read after 2 weeks, and 90% after 2 months

2. You need to balance consumption with synthesis and memorization (and taking action on info)

Tips:

1. Use Notetaking and Spaced Repetition to Lock in Information

2. The More Info You Consume the More Organization Required to Keep it Filed for Review. Create a Simple System Early

3. Review Your Progress at the End of the Week. Your Notes, Review, and Action Should be Keeping Pace with Your Consumption.

"Some books are meant to be tasted, others to be swallowed,
and some few to be chewed and digested;  That is, some books
are to be read only in parts; Others to be read, but not curiously;
And some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention."
             -Francis Bacon, Of Studies

View Answer on Quora

Filed in: Quora Answers • Uncategorized